Congressman Mark Siljander’s book, A Deadly Misunderstanding: A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide, originally published in October 2008 by HarperOne, is a testament to the effectiveness of the strategy and ideas that Bridges To Common Ground represents.

Siljander recounts his spiritual odyssey from anti-Muslim Christian conservative to pioneer in discovering ground-breaking common roots between Islam and Christianity, while trailblazing a unique diplomatic path for bringing the two communities together.

This story inspires hope in our increasingly desperate world, uncovering compelling common ground for followers of these two super-power religions. At the root of our mutual discord are basic misunderstandings of foundational concepts such as the meaning of “religion” and “conversion.”

His findings are drawn from twenty-seven years of study and practice in a real life journey. Wherever he and his praying partners travel among Muslim nations, the outcome of their quiet diplomacy is respect, trust, love of friends and enemies, and significant real-world breakthroughs in crisis situations of which few are aware.

​In A Deadly Misunderstanding, Siljander breaks down and re-assembles keys to understanding these concepts through the lens of the ancient Semitic languages of the Abrahamic religions, making paradigm-shifting discoveries that unite rather than divide us.

His book offers a new model based on ancient truths, proven to powerfully affect people, conflicts, countries, and potentially change cultures. This seemingly implausible path to peace dismantles the engine of terror without firing a single shot.

Testimonials

A blueprint to challenge the “Ideology of Terror” that threatens our way of life.

Hon. John H. Dalton ,

70th Secretary of the Navy under Pres. Clinton

A precious balm for wounds that need to be healed & a most sincere & effective antidote to stereotypes based on fear & hatred that need to be transformed into love & understanding on both sides.

Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr,,

University Professor of Islamic Studies at the George Washington University

Mr. Siljander builds a compelling case that any faithful reading of religion and it’s teachings should serve to unite, not divide… With this important new work, Mr. Siljander has courageously stood up to be counted.